Featured Image Credit: Archewell Foundation/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P
Topics: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Royal Family, UK News
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Royal Family, UK News
The Sussexes' idea to spread some festive cheer and release a 2024 Christmas card has seemingly backfired, with viewers perplexed by several aspects of the family shot.
So much so, that some have even accused the former royal couple of having edited the picture on the card, which includes their son Archie and daughter Lilibet.
For those out of the loop, Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle are no strangers to releasing a festive photo when the holiday season rolls back around.
This year, however, they invited their two children and their dogs to join in on the sweet snap - marking the first time that five-year-old Archie and three-year-old Lilibet have been photographed publicly in two years.
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The image in question looks to have been captured on the grounds of their Montecito mansion, with the couple having left the UK for California in 2020 after stepping down from their royal duties in a move dubbed by critics as 'Megxit'.
Harry and Meghan claimed at the time that their departure was partially prompted by mistreatment from both Harry's family and the British tabloid press, and a bid to afford more privacy for their family.
With this privacy in mind, the couple have since opted to keep their children's faces somewhat disguised from the public.
And in their latest holiday photo - despite including their two youngsters - they made the decision to picture their kids from the back, with Archie and Lilibet seen running into their parents' arms, with their three dogs flanking the family at the sides.
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However, the image has caused quite a stir online, with some viewers pointing out a series of 'errors' allegedly made by the individual in charge of editing the snap.
Re-sharing it online, one Twitter user accused: "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have released a FRAUDULENT Christmas photo - Archie hasn’t grown in two years and is the same size as his younger sister who is dressed like Princess Charlotte.
"What is this garbage?"
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Another claimed: "This is the stupidest Christmas card EVER! The picture of the family is horrifically bad, looks like AI and the composition is awful.
"Also, the rest of the pictures are not “corporate” but personal and self-indulgent. Why can’t they just act like normal people?"
And while some others haven't commented on the claim the picture is either AI or computer generated, others have been left with questions over the kids' positioning.
One summarised: "So Harry and Meghan’s new Xmas card! How is Lily as tall as Archie? Where is the hair Lily can almost sit on? [a reference to a previous comment made by the Duchess about her daughter's extreme hair length] Who thought this scene with such OBVIOUS staging was a good idea.
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"More questions? And go!"
Another asked: "Why is her arm so long?"
"Great point, and her legs are turned in a different direction from her body. It’s all very odd," another added.
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A third noted generally: "Does he have a backpack on or is backwards why is there a black striped part . Also the grass & leaves all look fake. Dogs aren’t acknowledging the kids at all or engaged. Mine would be in their faces."